Chapter 51
MASSIMO
You can hear a pin drop with the silence that fills the space. Stretching, thickening as I stare at the woman. The same woman who no longer looks sweet, warm, and friendly. In her place is a cold, calculating killer. One that has the power to bring even a Pakhan like Ivan to his knees in fear.
The realization of just how long she was with the women, with Soren, hits me like a ton of bricks. Horror fills my gut.
“A bit of an anti-climactic reaction,” she remarks, not a lick of humor in her tone. “Well, another time.”
“What do you mean only her?” Urso suddenly demands sharply, looking at Rori. “You told us that it was a team.”
“Because I shouldn’t have fucking told you about her in the fucking first place,” Rori snaps.
“Indeed.” Tatiana looks at Rori. “We’ll discuss that soon enough. We have somewhere to be shortly, and while I’ve enjoyed playing this part, I’m quickly growing tired of it. Or being here at all.” Then her gaze slips to Ivan. “And you and I, we have some unfinished business to discuss.”
“Tatiana, please,” Ivan starts.
Tatiana turns, bringing her gun up and sending the tranquillizer flying straight into his throat. He gasps, before falling to his knees, eyes already growing heavy. “Put him in the trunk,” Tatiana orders the two guards, who quickly comply.
Fuck, even they look terrified of her. Who the fuck is this woman?
When Tatiana looks back at us, her expression is cold. “I fucking hate New York, and I am so fucking pissed to be here in the first place.” She turns her head and pins a look at Rori, who stiffens. “The very place you were told never to come.”
“My best friend was here,” Rori answers tightly. “She was in danger.”
“And now, they’ve all seen my face and know my identity,” Tatiana continues sharply.
“You didn’t have to come,” Rori reminds her stiffly. “I told you about it to warn you about where things stood. We could have handled it, and they would never have had to know you exist.”
“Perhaps,” Tatiana agrees, a small concession, but none of us relax. “But, they are not the reason I’m here, are they?” Her gaze is pointed, making Rori lower her eyes.
“Someone needs to start fucking explaining,” Alonzo bites out through gritted teeth. “And I want to know why the fuck Hades hasn’t gone for your throat yet.”
“Because that would be a very stupid thing to do,” Tatiana replies mildly. “Wouldn’t it, Ms. O’Brien?”
Rori doesn’t answer that. She looks back at Alonzo, regret on her face. “I’m sorry,” she rasps. Alonzo’s expression shifts to one of confusion, possibly dread.
Yeah, the rest of us are thinking the same fucking thing, man. This is a super fucked up situation.
“Would someone start talking and not acting so fucking cryptic?” Nico demands sharply.
Suddenly, Sienna pushes around Alessio, stepping in front of him and staring at Rori. “Sienna,” Alessio barks, reaching for her, but she yanks her arm away from him and just stares at Rori.
Rori looks at her, pain all over her expression. “I’m sorry, Sienna,” she whispers.
“Until I know what you’re sorry for, I’m not accepting your apology, bitch,” Sienna states simply. Then she looks at Tatiana. “Did you know about us?”
Tatiana cocks her head. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you contact us?”
“Why would I mess up your lives? You were doing fine. You had parents who loved you. I kept tabs on you. Well, other than sending through that package to you about that fucker you were dating at the time. He was a sleazeball. Thankfully, you’ve done better at picking a man this time.
” She smirks at Alessio. Not that he returns it.
He just stares at her, waiting, gun at the ready.
“You knew about Lucy too?” I ask carefully.
Those cold eyes turn to me. “I did.” Then she gives a sly smile. “And you can thank me for sending her your way too. I got her ex out of the way for you. You’re welcome.”
Lucy gasps, even as I narrow my eyes. Lucy shoves forward, her face a mask of horror, even as I pull her back sharply against my front. “Joey died in a workplace accident.”
“He died because he planned on ditching you and your son, while also being part of a sex trafficking ring,” Tatiana corrects.
She drops the bomb so casually that at first I’m not sure I heard her correctly.
“The company he was working for? They were part of the Irish’s portfolio, and he was dipping his toes in the waters to try and be noticed by them.
They had him working in the clubs, pulling out women who were far too easy a target and sending them through the pipeline here.
The very pipeline the rest of you had no idea about until now,” she adds with a pointed look at Nico and Dante.
“No, Joey was a jerk, but he’d never do that,” Lucy protests.
Tatiana narrows her eyes slightly, and I grip the gun tighter. Calling an assassin a liar is not a smart move. Fuck, this is a fucking mess.
Finally, she says, “If you’d like the proof I’ll send it to you.”
Lucy’s throat bobs as she swallows. “But it was a workplace accident,” she whispers. Clearly still unable to believe it.
“Most will make anything look like an accident with enough money,” Tatiana shrugs.
“I didn’t know you were pregnant, otherwise I’d have done it sooner, or possibly later.
” She looks at Soren and then back at Lucy.
“He might be your son’s sperm donor, but he is not his father.
Your new man is. Don’t fuck that up. I’ve looked into him, and other than some mild annoyances, he’ll do. ”
I glare at her, but she ignores me.
“So you knew about Amara?” Lazaro hisses. “You knew what your sister suffered and did nothing?”
There’s a flash of regret on her face. “I was too late to find her. By the time I did, the trial was finished, and she went off the grid for a bit. Amara, come out, please.”
“No,” Lazaro snarls, bristling.
“Lazaro, move,” Amara says, voice soft.
“Amara…”
“No. Move. If she were going to hurt me, she’d have done it when she locked me in the secret office.
” Lazaro finally steps aside, but only enough to allow her to step forward, not in front of him.
Amara’s expression is broken as she stares at Tatiana.
“Why did you never come to see me? Or help me after?”
Tatiana regards her for a moment. Finally, she sighs.
“Because my life isn’t one that you want to be a part of, Amara.
The horrors you were put through, I see every fucking day.
I tried to help you, but you went off grid and I couldn’t find you.
You just disappeared. I sent people to look for you, but nothing.
When you finally resurfaced, I sent through money to pay for your tuition at beauty school. ”
“I got tuition assistance from the government,” Amara corrects her.
“That’s what it was framed as. Couldn’t exactly say it was from me, now could I?”
Amara stares at her. “And after? Why didn’t you show yourself to me then?”
“I have a job to do, Amara, and you’re a grown woman.
” Hurt flashes across Amara’s face. “I’m your sister in blood only, Amara.
This isn’t going to be a big family reunion that ends with me being in your life every day.
That was never going to be our relationship.
You have the rest of them for that. We’ll probably never see each other after today.
” Then she pins a cold, lethal look at Lazaro. “But I’ll be keeping tabs. ”
The warning hits, and Lazaro narrows his eyes at her furiously. Amara looks like she wants to cry, but she just gives one slow nod of her head.
“And Gia?” Nico asks coldly.
Tatiana glances at him, and then Gia, who steps through. “By the time I found her, she was already out of that house and in the apartment. The abuse I didn’t know about, but since she was on her own, I felt she was safe enough. Clearly, I was wrong.”
Nico lets out a low snarl, eyes flashing in fury. “You let her suffer,” he hisses.
“Nico,” Gia says calmly, looking at Tatiana assessingly.
“You wouldn’t have fared better with our parents either,” she tells her.
“Whatever you suffered to get you here, it was horrible, but it wouldn’t have been easier if you had been the one to stay.
Giovanni would have either killed you or married you off to the first man he could. ”
Tatiana doesn’t answer that, just cocks her head slightly in acknowledgment.
“I was busy, but when I came back, I was going to figure out a way to get you out. It seems your husband just beat me to it. If I didn’t see how much you loved him, I would find a way for you out of here too, but clearly he’s good in bed, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to put up with the stick up his ass.
” Then, like a switch being flipped, the same warm and welcoming look slips back over her face.
“I’m sure Alessio can help you out with that, right, Pookie? Or should it be Boo Bear?”
Then the mask is gone, and back is the assassin, seeing and hearing everything. The way the woman can switch is fucking messed up as shit. It’s like she’s two completely different people.
“None of this explains how you know Rori,” Alonzo snaps, drawing her attention again.
Tatiana sighs. “You’re not going to get off of that, are you?
” She rolls her eyes and looks at Rori, waving her hand.
“Get it out so we can get this show on the road. I’ve already wasted too much time, and the longer I’m here, the quicker news about me will spread, and I really don’t want to ruin the surprises I have waiting. ”
Rori glares at her. “You’re such a pain in the ass,” she mutters.
“Not yet, but keep it up and you’ll find out,” Tatiana replies sweetly, but the look in her eyes is a warning.
Rori looks at Alonzo, and then Sienna. “I’m sorry,” she says again. “I…I haven’t been honest with either of you.” She takes a deep breath, like she’s bracing herself. “My name isn’t Aurora O’Brien. Well, it wasn’t originally. It’s the identity I’ve adopted.”